Passports

[TimHorton]

After reading a few different forums this week concerning the need by everyone to have passports by the end of this year thought I would relate my little story about having our passports renewed 4 years ago.

Here in Canada we must renew our passports every 5 years (remember this fact.)

So here is my tale:

4 years ago:
Canadian passports renewal $85.00 each
Wife gets her hair done $45.00 + $10.00 tip, I shaved
Passport photos $15.00 each
Total= $255.00
Both our pictures rejected

Wife gets her hair done $45.00 +$10.00 tip, I shaved
Passport photos $15.00 each
New Total= $340.00
My picture accepted, wifes rejected

Wife gets her hair done $55.00 +$15.00 tip (NEW stylist la de da)
Passport Photo $25.00 (STUDIO photographer la de da)
Grand New Total=$435.00

New passports need to be renewed next year.
HELP

[emc]

Why were the photos rejected?

[Jesus]

You just need to convince your wife to shave her head, .D

[TimHorton]

Emc

The first time the photos were rejected the passport office said that the dimensions were wrong on both of our pictures (by the way over 75% of the photos from the people that day at the passport office were rejected )

The second time they said there was a shadow on the background of my wife's picture.

Third time was a charm:p

Now the new regulations for Canadians state that your expression must be neutral no smiling or frowning.

I guess the new passports for all Canadians have to look like you REALLY need a vacation

And Jesus I passed on your idea to my wife--thanks a lot buddy!
The swelling on my head should be down by Monday:p :p

[Canard]

I am surprised that you didn't get a free re-take of the photographs. After all they are in the business of taking passport photos and they even put that official looking rubber stamp on the back so they ought to know the rules. Too late for the last time but for the renewal I would be expecting a guarantee from the photo shop.

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by Canard

I am surprised that you didn't get a free re-take of the photographs. After all they are in the business of taking passport photos and they even put that official looking rubber stamp on the back so they ought to know the rules. Too late for the last time but for the renewal I would be expecting a guarantee from the photo shop.

Most, if not all, places have a sign that clearly states that if the pictures are rejected, they will not do free re-takes. We just renewed ours a month ago and got our pics taken at London Drugs; luckily they accepted them, but we just got our passports in the mail this week and I was surprised at how dark they were.

I know they are picky Tim ...we get our passports paid for by work here, and two out of six of us had to get re-takes. It is a pain.

[TimHorton]

Originally Posted by Rissask

I know they are picky Tim

Forgot to mention in my original post that there was another snafu in our renewal process.
I was born in Quebec and my birth certificate that was perfectly fine for my original passport and one other renewal before the last one was not acceptable at the renewal four years ago

Had to get a NEW birth certificate from Quebec @ $15--so factor in that cost in addition to all the hair appointments, tips and photo sessions.
Grand NEW NEW total $450
Can't wait for next year

[Ginger]

Maggie, ours are very dark too...ours AND the kids. I was surprised they were accepted also.

The NOT SMILING thing is hilarious. Your photo ends up looking like a mug shot. No wonder John gets hassled everytime we cross the border.

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by Ginger

Maggie, ours are very dark too...ours AND the kids. I was surprised they were accepted also.

The NOT SMILING thing is hilarious. Your photo ends up looking like a mug shot. No wonder John gets hassled everytime we cross the border.

And our original photos never really looked dark at all! I think it was the coating or something when they make the passport...weird. And yes, the unsmiling pose does make it look like a mug shot.

Tim- well, that is just silly, about the birth certificate.

I think the renewal process is just ridiculous- like, fill out a one page form, get a new pic, and be done with it. Having to go through that whole entire process from scratch every 5 years is stupid.

[emc]

I guess we have it easy. Take the stuff to the post office, they send it off and in about 6 weeks we have our passports. At least that's how it was in 2001.

[TimHorton]

Originally Posted by emc

I guess we have it easy. Take the stuff to the post office, they send it off and in about 6 weeks we have our passports. At least that's how it was in 2001.

And correct me if I'm wrong but are the US passports for 10 years, not 5 years like the Canadian passports?

[Icon oclast]

Originally Posted by TimHorton

And correct me if I'm wrong but are the US passports for 10 years, not 5 years like the Canadian passports?

Yuppers, ours are good for 10 years. We took our own passport pictures per the state dept. guidelines with a digital camera and printed them on photo paper. I think the passports were 75 or 80 bucks a pop. Still a ripoff. My wife probably had her hair done, however I don't even want to know what she pays for a do, ignorance being bliss and all.

[TimHorton]

Originally Posted by Icon oclast

My wife probably had her hair done, however I don't even want to know what she pays for a do, ignorance being bliss and all.

Yeah well mine uses her debit card which is for our joint chequing account so I know what she spends.

BUT---she is worth every penny

[Jesus]

Originally Posted by TimHorton

And Jesus I passed on your idea to my wife--thanks a lot buddy!
The swelling on my head should be down by Monday:p :p

Use a bag of ice and the swealling will be gone in half the time.
In Mexico you can choose the time span of your passport: one trip, one year, 5 and 10 years, and they are so nice that you get a better price if you opt for the longer periods. But if you are short on cash or are sure you won´t travel a lot (or the oposite also, if you travel so much that you use all the pages in less than those 5 years), you can opt for the shorter ones.
Here the picture game was almost the oposite, they accept most of the picture, specially the ugly looking ones. I wasn´t proud of my passport picture actually. The places where you get your picture taken already knew the regulations and made the pictures the right size and tell you about the the proper cosmetic adjustments.
But all that changed with digital technology, you have to have your picture taken at the Passport Issuing Office the day of your appointment, have you fingerprint and signature also digitalized and they blend both in the computer and your passport comes out with your picture looking funny until you take a closer look, your fingerprint is part of your picture!!! And also, your picture is part of the background of that page. Much safer than adhering a picture to the page.
I can´t imagine why the USA and British citizen can deal such an important document via mail, specially after 9/11. If those governments were really worried about safety they would double check the identity of a person asking for a passport and requering personal appointments to verify identity, otherwise is so easy to send terrorist with a valid official passport. It just amazes me.

[Skiptown]

Wife and I stopped by Costco with no haircut, $10 each and 5 minutes and we had garunteed photos. Six weeks later and $85 each and we had passports good for 10 years. Passports are the absolute easiest way to move about the world. I saw people in Mexico having trouble with only driver liscense and/or birth cerificate. we had zero problems cashing travelers checks etc., just showed the passport and it was a done deal.It also made going to Canada a breeze.